Maine Governor Paul LePage says he won’t quit

“I will not resign,” Governor Paul LePage of Maine said Wednesday morning, a day after he had floated that possibility in a radio interview.

The combative governor made the declaration after meeting with Drew Gattine, the Democratic state representative whom he had berated in an obscenity-laced voice-mail message and mused about shooting between the eyes in a duel.

Facing calls to step down from Democrats, and pressure to take “corrective action” from fellow Republicans, LePage announced that he would seek “spiritual guidance” with his wife and children.

But he said he would not seek “professional help” as Democrats had been urging him to do.

Advertisement

“I’m not an alcoholic and I’m not a drug addict and I don’t have mental issues,” LePage said. “What I have is a backbone, and I want to move Maine forward.”

Speaking to reporters, LePage vowed that he would never again speak to the media, whom he accused of stoking controversies.

“I will no longer speak to the press ever again after today,” he said.

“And I’m serious. Everything will be put into writing. I’m tired of being caught in the gotcha moments.”

House Speaker Mark Eves, a Democrat, said after LePage’s meeting with Gattine that the governor needs to resign.

“This has never been about an apology for the governor’s profane and threatening voice message,” Eves said. “By his continued erratic behavior Governor LePage has proven again he is unfit to serve as Maine’s governor.”